Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Jan-Mar 1928)

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58 EXHIBITORS HERALD and MOVING PICTURE WORLD March 10, 1928 G. C. Silverthorn, Liberty theatre, Harrisville, Mich. — Smalt town patronage. THE HARVESTER: Special cast— Did not pull as well as the other Gene Stratton Porter's pictures but pleased those who came. — Geo. E. Fuller, Playhouse, Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — General patronage. THE MAGIC GARDEN: Special cast— Some very good acting in this picture. Seven reels. — Giacoma Bros., Crystal theatre. Tombstone, Ariz. — General patronage. THE GINGHAM GIRL: Special cast— Not so good either in story or direction. Some utterly impossible situations and poor unity in handling theme. Did not draw. — Geo. E. Fuller, Playhouse theatre, Fairhope, Ala. — General patronage. First National THE GORILLA: Charlie Murray— 100%. February 10-11. This is a knockout. Full of thrills and drew good both nights. Folks laughed themselves sick at the comedy and screamed and yelled at the woozy parts. Eight reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— 60%. February 22-23. And it is some picture. I have been in the show business several years and this one tops them all for this type of picture. I don't care how hard they are, this one will make them think and they will like it. Any exhibitor that has this show booked should get back of it. It will also stand a raise in admissions, for it will please all classes of 6how-goers. This is not applesauce for it did not majke me any big money, but no fault of the picture. I just cannot 6ay enough for this show, but buy, book and boost for it is there. Seven reels.— W. T. Biggs, Adair theatre, Adair, la. — General patronage. THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess— 50%. February 18. The best Barthelmess picture in a long time. Holds interest all the time. A good plot which is well acted by a good cast. If it could have been shortened one reel it would have been etill better. Eight reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis. — Small town patronage. THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY: Special cast — 50%. A dissappointment. — Frank G. Kresler, Palace theatre, Rensselaer, Ind. — General patronage. THE NOOSE: Richard Barthelmess — February 15-16. They all came out raving about this one but Barthelmess is hard to put over in this town so business was just fair. It will please those you can inveigle into coming. Eight reels. — John L. Damm, Strand theatre, Wadsworth, O. — General patronage. THE TEXAS STEER: Will Rogers— 50%. February 19-20. This is a funny picture. Will Rogers is all that makes it a special. The cast fine, the comedy over the heads of 50 per cent of our audience. To the appreciators of Rogers comedy it was great. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY: Maria Corda — 40%. February 15-16. Draws fair for first night but as a whole is poor. Crowds stay away in gangs after first showing. — S. Lex Shore, Princess theatre, Obion, Tenn. — General patronage. THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY: Maria Corda— 20%. February 10-11. A big dressed up show with big gorgeous sets, but for entertainment I can't say so much for it. Many did not like it and some did. About a 50-50 picture in a small town. Eight reels. — H. J. Eagan, American theatre, Wautoma, Wis.— Small town patronage. THE DROP KICK: Richard Barthelmess— We saw many reports on this picture that were not very good, but the picture pleased well here. Seven reels. — B. R. Parsons, State theatre, Springfield, Minn.— General patronage. THE LIFE OF RILEY: Murray-Sidney— 25%. February 15. A good program picture. Two of the best comedy stars in the business. Very funny. — Bert Silver, Silver Family theatre, Greenville, Mich. — General patronage. SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS: Special oast— 80%. Good.— Frank G. Kresler, Palace theatre, Rensselaer, Ind. — General patronage. THE TEXAS STEER: Special cast— 80%. Good. — Frank G. Kresler, Palace theatre, Rensselaer, Ind. — General patronage. SENOR DAREDEVIL: Ken Maynard— 60%. February 4. All of this star's pictures are good so far. Best Westerns we get. Had a big rain which makes the percentage low. Seven reels. — Robert K. Yancey, Bonny theatre, Mansfield, Mo. — General patronage. SECRETS: Norma Talmadge— 35%. Some liked it, majority did not. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage. THE AMATEUR GENTLEMAN: Richard Bar thelmess— 35%. The few who came said it was a good picture. Costume pictures won't draw. — Philip Rand, Rex theatre, Salmon, Idaho. — General patronage. VALLEY OF THE GIANTS: Milton Sills— A sure hit. Will make any exhibitor money under average conditions. — S. Lex Shore, Princess theatre, Obion, Tenn. — General patronage. BROADWAY NIGHTS: Lois Wilson— February 8. A good little program picture and which I believe pleased the few that came to see it. Seven reels. — Wm. Wiske, Community theatre, Red Granite, Wis. — Small town patronage. THE SUNSET DERBY: Special cast— February 19. A pleasing race track picture, ft is clean, has heart interest, and some comedy. Ralph Lewis good as the stern father. Six reels. — Wm. Wiske, Community theatre, Red Granite, Wis. — Small town patronage. BABE COMES HOME: Babe Ruth— January 22. Had this booked for the baseball season, but had to take it out on account of the flood. Getting old and had to play it at this time. Had we played it in season we are sure we would have made money on it. As it was we did not take in enough to pay expenses. However, the few who saw it enjoyed it judging from the very good comments and the laughs registered all through the screening. There is plenty of good comedy in this picture furnished by Louise Fazenda and Arthur Stone. Also some by Babe himself. Ladies will enjoy this picture just as much as men folks. It's a wonderful romance with beautiful Anna Q. Nilsson and you will find that Babe Ruth is a born actor. He makes ardent love to Anna Q. Nilsson and he demonstrates his ability as a star of the screen as well as the diamond. Film in first class condition. — J. S. Landry, Columbia theatre, Morganza, La. — General patronage. THE DEVIL'S SADDLE: Ken Maynard— February 11. 100 per cent picture and one that our patrons like. This is our last under contract, and don't think we played one that registered under this. Right next to Tom Mix, and gaining all the time. Look out, Mr. Mix.— J. S. Landry, Columbia theatre, Morganza, La. — Small town patronage. ROSE OF THE GOLDEN WEST: Special castFebruary 13-14. Not a box office attraction and not such a wonderful picture. Paid too much in the beginning and did not take in film rental. Another two days wasted. When you buy First Natioanl have them mark this one off the list. Seven reels. — A. E. Andrews, Opera House, Emporium, Pa. — General patronage. HER WILD OAT: Colleen Moore— February 5. "One of Miss Moore's best," "Miss Moore's best." These are the comments we got on this picture and we think they came from almost every person who saw "Her Wild Oat." Needless to tell you exhibitors to play this or any of Miss Moore's pictures, as you all know her percentage as to entertainment. — J. S. Landry, Columbia theatre, Morganza, La.— Small town patronage. FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE: Special cast— February 10-11. A good program picture. — R. Pfeiffer, Princess theatre, Chilton, Wis. — Small town patronage. McFADDEN'S FLATS: Charles Murray— Boys, here is a good one, will please all, if you can get them in. Seven reels. — A. J. Smith, Texan theatre. Roaring Springs, Tex. — General patronage. WHITE PANTS WILLIE: Johnnie Hines— Pretty good comedy with one reel in colors that is mighty pretty. Shows class throughout. If your patrons like Johnnie too, should do well with this one. Eight reels. — C. A. Spainhour, Twilight theatre, Greensburg, Kan. — General patronage. Fox SEVENTH HEAVEN: Special cast— 90%. Very good. — Frank G. Kresler, Palace theatre, Rensselaer, Ind. — General patronage. SEVENTH HEAVEN: Special cast— 56%. February 21-22. Farrell and Gay nor sure put this one over. Our patrons said "A mighty fine picture." Good print. Can't lose on this one if the weather man will help. Eleven reels. — K. D. Francis, Family theatre, Metamore, Mich. — Small town patronage. SEVENTH HEAVEN: Special cast— February 19-20. In order to get the real lowdown on this picture, I took particular pains to ask a great number of those who attended for their opinions. I must say that everyone interviewed was loud in their praise of it and many told me that it was one of the finest pictures they had even seen. It is bound to please the better element of your patronage, and there is plenty of action in it to please even the buck-hoot boys. I am not given to picking flaws in a picture just to be doing something, but there is one glaring inconsistency in this picture which, although I noticed it at once, did not necessarily spoil the picture for me, and which was called to my attention by several of my patrons, not in groups, but separately. The flaw in direction, as it must be called, appears in the last reel when Chico, totally blinded in the way, is seen rushing at a headlong speed through a street filled to the curbs by mobs celebrating, as we did here, the announcement of the signing of the Armistice, and finding, apparently without difficulty, the doorway to his humble quarters wherein he expected to find, and did find, Diane. This, to me, and many others, was the flaw in an otherwise perfect picture. Destructive criticism is easy, but as a constructive thought I would say that the picture could have been classed as a 100 per cent directorial effort if the director had shown Chico as being led through the mob by either his old friend the sewer rat, or by the fat taxi driver, even if only to the foot of the stairs in his abode which led to his "seventh heaven." However, the picture as a whole, is entitled to the rating of special, not only in its own right, but in comparison with specials from other producers which are nothing more or less than fair program pictures, extended a few extra reels. The first night I drew a blizzard, and the second night it was 18 degrees colder than old mother Finnegan's icebox, so no box office records were smashed, though no fault of the picture. Twelve reels. — Wm. E. Tragsdorf, Trags theatre, Neillsville, Wis. — Small town patronage. A HIGH SCHOOL HERO: Sally Phipps— 27%. February 17. A dandy picture that was wasted on a small crowd. The best basket ball game in any picture.— T. W. Cannon, Majestic theatre, Greenfield, Tenn. — Small town patronage. THE GAY RETREAT: Special cast— 80%. Good Frank G. Kresler, Palace theatre, Rensselaer, Ind. — General patronage. THE GAY RETREAT: Special cast— 25%. February 10. Comments all good, often spoken of as the funniest comedy ever seen. Bad weather ruined attendance. — T. W. Cannon, Majestic theatre, Greenfield, Tenn. — Small town patronage. THE GAY RETREAT: Special cast— This one was a riot. This comedy team (McNamara-Cohen) could not be beat. Book this one. — A. L. Lighter, Orpheum theatre, Mellen, Wis. — General patronage. LOVES OF CARMEN: Dolores Del Rio— 49%. February 2-3. No good for us country boys, we don't like this for the same reason we don't like ninety percent of National Broadcasting programs. We say it must be good, but not for me, so we don't go or spin our dials. — T. W. Cannon, Majestic theatre, Greenfield, Tenn. — Small town patronage. WHAT PRICE GLORY: Special cast— 81%. February 9-10-11. If this production is properly exploited, it will do business against the strongest kind of indoor amusements. I ran this production three days and had as opposition in a town of 2900 population, another picture show with Jackie Coogan in "The Bugle Call" also Universal's "The Ice Flood," married people's dance, basket ball games, card parties, church suppers and what not. I still came through with a nice profit after paying a stiff price for the picture and additional expense of a trap drummer and effect man from Pittsburgh which cost me plenty of dough. First print shipped was bad. Fox got another print out for my Saturday show. Twelve reels. — A. E. Andrews, Opera House, Emporium, Pa. — General patronage. WHAT PRICE GLORY: Special cast— Good. Failed to draw, however. — A. L. Lighter, Orpheum theatre, Mellen, Wis. — General patronage. LOVE MAKES THEM WILD: Special cast— 85%. January 22. Very good, the young folks eat it up. Six reels. — A. J. Smith, Texan theatre. Roaring Springs, Tex. — General patronage. THE JOY GIRL: Olive Borden— 34%. January 13. Borden is good for expenses most any time but fails to draw big money. — T. W. Cannon, Majestic theatre, Greenfield, Tenn. — Small town patronage. THE JOY GIRL: Olive Borden— A dandy little picture. However, I would not class it as a special No Losses in the Box Office ICKET REGISTERS Automatic Ticket Register Corp. 723 Seventh Ave New York Tickets^Every Purposeo£ LOWEST Market Prices